Line #4 PlayingWith/CynicismCatalyst


1	'''Basic Trope''': A traumatic event that makes a character more cynical than before.
2	* '''Straight''': Bob became a cynic after his sister Alice was killed in a car accident.
3	* '''Exaggerated''':
4	** Bob tripped and scraped his knee, and he is barely the same person he was before.
5	** DespairEventHorizon
6	* '''Downplayed''': Bob became somewhat less trusting after his entire family was brutally murdered on his birthday.
7	* '''Justified''':
8	** The event with his sister left Bob traumatized; his new personality is a coping mechanism.
9	** Bob developed PTSD or other emotional problems due to the terrible experience.
10	** Bob believes that the accident was [[GuiltComplex his fault]], regardless of whether it really was.
11	* '''Inverted''': Alice's fate makes Bob realize how precious life is. He becomes much more optimistic as a result.
12	* '''Subverted''': Alice is killed and Bob looks like he's about to have a FreakOut...but this turns out to be his EstablishingCharacterMoment as ThePollyanna.
13	* '''Double Subverted''': Bob ends up being blamed for everything by his parents and this turns out to be his actual CynicismCatalyst.
14	* '''Parodied''': Alice suffers some minor nuisance (like a graze). Bob is still traumatized.
15	* '''Zig Zagged''': How much Alice's fate affected Bob varies DependingOnTheWriter.
16	* '''Averted''': No one's personality changes as a result of physical or emotional trauma.
17	* '''Enforced''': Can be CreatorBreakdown.
18	* '''Lampshaded''': "Bob's been pretty harsh, I wonder what made him that way..." "Probably [[TheLostLenore a dead loved one]]; AbusiveParents; [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking stolen lunch money]]; [[DoomedHometown a lost home]]; or something like that."
19	* '''Invoked''': Bob's EvilMentor Claire arranges for Alice to have a tragic accident to toughen Bob up.
20	* '''Exploited''': Claire guesses that Bob's cynicism is down to some tragic event, looks into his past and finds out about Alice. She uses this knowledge to manipulate him.
21	* '''Defied''': Bob vows not to let Alice's accident get to him.
22	* '''Discussed''': "How's Bob doing?" "I'm worried about how this might change him..."
23	* '''Conversed''': "Oh look, a cynical brooding character. I bet he'll have an episode devoted to whatever upset him so much".
24	* '''Implied''': Bob is seen brooding over...something. How much it has to do with his attitude isn't explored.
25	* '''Deconstructed''':
26	** Bob's cynical personality is the result of him selfishly pushing other people away to avoid being hurt in the same way again.
27	** Bob's cynical personality only shows that he is not strong-willed enough to deal with the problems of the world.
28	* '''Reconstructed''': Bob has made (or makes) peace with his past, but the event still marks the point where his younger, more naive, self "grew up".
29	* '''Plotted A Good Waste''': Bob is given a tragic backstory to avoid letting his cynical behavior make him less sympathetic.
30	* '''Played For Laughs''': Bob's guilt over the incident is shown as disproportionate and it being brought up brings up many NotSoStoic moments.
31	* '''Played For Drama''': Bob is a tortured, sad, pathetic soul who hides behind bitterness. Said bitterness makes people who're unaware of his backstory distrust him and leads to many tragic misunderstandings.
32	----
33	Back to CynicismCatalyst...and let's hope you recover from reading this page.

Context PlayingWith / CynicismCatalyst